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Pearson: “You Can't Underestimate The Power Of Togetherness”

By Kevin Affleck

Nigel Pearson believes the group cycling session led by Ben Foster summed up the spirit in the squad and displayed the sense of unity needed across the country at this uncertain time.

The Watford 'keeper led seven of his teammates on a 30-minute virtual spin session this week in a bid to stay fit and reconnect with his peers. Craig Dawson, Troy Deeney, Adrian Mariappa, Ignacio Pussetto, Andre Gray, Daniel Bachmann and Craig Cathcart all joined Foster for the gruelling ride and it was a scene that warmed the heart of the Head Coach, who has spent most of his time since he arrived generating a culture based around togetherness and inclusivity.

“I saw the video that Fozzy was involved in and I just thought it was fantastic,” Pearson said on Episode Two of The View From the Vic podcast, which is out on Saturday. “You look at the overall situation [in the Premier League] and our fight is still far from over. When the season returns, indeed if it restarts, we've got to try and pick up [where we left off], remain positive and build on that camaraderie and that sprit is very, very important. You can't underestimate the power of positive people and togetherness.

“Those things are driven by the players. People have asked what's changed [since I came in], but it's about setting up parameters for the players and what it (the cycling video) said to me was it's really important we still have this ability to get together and keep in contact with each other because when we restart, and that's irrelevant right now, it's difficult to pick up where you left off.”

Time Capsules: Sir Elton John's Play-Off Hopes (1999)

In our 'Time Capsules' series, we dive into the Watford FC archives to re-publish a classic interview from an historic matchday programme.

For our third instalment, we take a look at an article written by the club's Honorary Life President Sir Elton John on the final day of the 1998/99 Nationwide Football League Division One season.

As the club's owner at the time, Sir Elton John reflects on the incredible resurgence from Graham Taylor's team which has given them a shot at promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, and looks ahead to the prospect of a trip to Wembley Stadium...

The Programme

Season: 1998/99

Match: Watford 1-0 Grimsby Town

Date: Sunday May 9, 1999

Manager: Graham Taylor

Competition: Nationwide Football League Division One

The Article

Every supporter can look back at specific games and say ‘that was a defining moment’.

For example, go back three years when the last game of the 1995/96 season saw us face Leicester City here. If we won there was a chance we could stay in Division One, after a late run from a seemingly impossible position.

For Leicester a win meant a possible play-off place and all that could bring.

As you know we lost 1-0 – a result which sent us down, even though as it turned out, a win would not have saved us given results elsewhere. For Leicester, a play-off place resulted in a successful visit to Wembley and a Premiership place. That first season back in the top flight, City won the Littlewoods Cup and played in Europe as a consequence - going out of the UEFA Cup to Atlético Madrid.

Suddenly, from playing on the same field, we were two divisions – and a world – apart.

Thankfully, due to the management skills of Graham and his staff – and the incredible efforts of the players, we could be the Leicester City of the 1998/99 season. A play-off place beckons and a chance to play in the toughest League in the world against players and teams of global stature.

The butterflies start to go even as I write this.

In the immediate future, our opponents today know what the play-offs entail. They came up to Division One via that route last season. Can you imagine the atmosphere at a Wembley play-off final? Oh, the butterflies are going again.

Meanwhile, there have been defining moments since the Leicester City game. Last season when we went to the last game of the season, Bristol City looked the more likely to take the title. And although we still would have been promoted, there's something special about going up as champions. But Jason Lee's winning goal and Bristol's defeat at Preston meant we collected the silverware.

Look at Bristol City's fate now – perhaps that silverware meant more than we think?

This season's defining moment – I was there, but I missed it!

Of course you know the game I'm referring to – against Tranmere Rovers on April 3 when we were 1-0 down with a little over 15 minutes left. A play-off place then looked very remote.

Then Peter Kennedy whacked one in and we went on to win the game.

Seasons turn on moments like these. And who's to say today's game won't include a moment or incident which could directly influence the next few weeks?

Either way, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support this season, particularly those of you who also go to the away games.

I know from talking to Graham that your backing has been a key factor in the winning, or drawing of certain games.

Here's hoping I see you all at Wembley – it's been a long time.

Keep an eye out for the next historic interview in this series, coming soon.